Contractible piling.



J. U. MEEM. UONTRACTIBLE FILING. APPLICATION FILED 1333.13, 1910.

Patented May 2, 1911.

ll STATES ATT ICE. I

J'AMES Q. MEEM, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

pile which can be varied in width to close the last opening in the sheathing of an excavation.

In many instances where sheet piling is used to inclose encavations, the last pile to be driven is frequently either too wide or too narrow,necessitating the use of additional piles or packings to compl'etel close the sheathing. Also, piles do not a ways drive perfectly straight, and the last opening may vary in width from top to bottom, thereby rendering a pile of uniform width ineffective to comp etelyclose the space. Especially are these contingencies liable to happen where interlocking metallic sheet piling is used,-which comes in various stock sizes which have to be used in the best and most economical manner possible, even though sometimes expensive and ineffective.

According to this invention, I propose to .construct a contractible pile, preferably 'of the interlocking type, whereby it will vary in widthaccording to the aperture to be closed, while at the same time interlocking with the adjacent piles and thereby forming a'com'plete closure without entailing extra labor and time.

The invention with respect to several forms thereof is shown in the accompany ing drawing, wherein Figure 1 represents in section a contractible pile embodying the invention, Fig. 2;

shows the pile contracted and interlocked with standard piles, Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 shows the pile of Figs. 1 and 2 being driven where the width varies, Fig. 5

is an end view of a modified construction, Fig. 6 is a side view, Figs. 7 and 8 show another modification, Fig. 9 shows a flexible stiifened canvas sheet having cutting heads, and Fig. 10 shows another modification.

1, 2, represent interlocking members of a pile adapted to interlock with similar members 1, 2 of standard piles 3. According to Specification of Letters Patent.

CONTRACTIBLE FILING.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed April 13, 1910. Serial Il'o. 555,231.

will not affect the flexibility of the pile, but will add to its vertical stiffness.

If it is desired to still further pro ict the bottom of the thin sheet, shoes wi .n some form of apron or cutting wings may be attached to the bottoms of the T or other irons, or extra stiifeners may be attached to the footings of the flexible material. In Fig. 9, the bottom of the canvas or flexib y weiji has cutter heads 11, and in Fig. 30, the stifl eners 12 act as cutters and aiso protect the web against rupture.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the members 1 and 2 are connected by joined 'links'7, 8, which links are loosely pivoted or slotted to permit the members 1 and 2 to adjust themselves to such an aperture as for instance is shown in Fig. 1, where thesides are not parallel. The pivots of the links 7 and 8 are made sufficiently loose so that the pile can be bent in its own. plane, sufliciently for the purposes described. The links 7 and 8 and 10 thereby constitute a flexible member or intermediate'portion equivalent to the flexible sheet member heretofore described,

.In order to waterproof such a pile, be-

tween the links 7 and 8 will be a flexible 'i and thereby the distance between the members 1 and 2 can be varied, as may be nec essary, the rivet holes being slotted to per- -mit the members 1, 2, to take inclined positions, if necessary. In this form .also, a sheet of canvas or other material above mentioned 9 may be used, as in the other forms.

It will be seen that various constructions declare that 'what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1.:- A pile having interlocking sides and 21 'contractible intermediate portion.

2. A 'pile comprising side members and a flexible intermediate portion.

3. A ile comprising side members having interlocfiing edges, a flexible intermediate member, and a fabric overlying the flexible member.

4. Apile comprising side members havin presenceof two Witnesses.

ing interlocking edges, and a longitudinally flexible intermediate member.

5. A pile comprising side members having ing interlocking'edges, and an intermediate flexible sheet member secured to' said side members.

In-testimony whereof I affix my signature,

JAMES C. MEEM. Witnesses:

J. S. Woosrnn, GEO. N. KERR. 

